Car-coupling.



PATENTBD AUG. 20, 1907.

J. w. MALPHURS.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLIOATION nun 113.19, 1907.

Swueutoz Joel WMan/mrs Q vi b1 eases JOEL W. MALPHURS, OF GAINESVILLE,FLORIDA.

GAR-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1907.

Application filed February 19,1907. Serial No. 358,226.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, John W. MALPHURS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Gainesville, in the county of Alachua and State ofFlorida, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplers, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in car couplers, the object ofthe invention being to provide a car coupler having an engaging hookmounted within a chambered drawhead and normally held in operativeposition and cushioned by the action of a back spring combined withmeans for throwing the hook to release position, the construction beingsuch as to secure an effective coupling and uncoupling action betweenthe hooks of opposing couplers, so as to adapt the same to readilycouple and uncouple, to sustain the shocks and jars to which devices ofthis kind are subjected, to couple directly when the hooks of opposingcouplers come into contact, and to be released without the necessity ofa trainman going between the cars.

In the accompanying drawing,Figure 1 is a top plan view of two couplersembodying my invention, shown in coupling engagement. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal transverse section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail of the dogand its operating means.

Referring to the drawing, the improved coupler is shown as comprising ahollow or chambered drawhead 1, from which extends the usual shank 2.Arranged within the drawhead is a coupling element 3, which islongitudinally curved and in the general form of a hook, being providedwith a hooked engaging end 4, adapted to project beyond the front end ofthe drawhead. The opposite end of the hook is pivotally mounted upon apin 5 extending vertically through the drawhead, and the outer faceofthe hook portion 4 is formed with a beveled contact surface 6 for apurpose presently explained. The couplers are designed in practice to bemounted in rights and lefts at opposite ends of a car, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 2, so that the hooked terminals of said couplinghooks will be arranged for ready and free interlocking engagement.

It will be observed that the beveled faces 6 of the coupling ends of thehook enable them when coming in contact to ride freely upon one another,so that they will move into engagement in an easy. and efficient manner.

Seciued at one end to the drawhead is a curved leaf mountedgupon avertical shaft or pin 9 extending to the exterior and connected at itsupper end with a crank arm 10.

As shown, the dog is preferably of elliptical form to provide oppositeengaging ends or portions 8 and 8 In one position the dog is adapted tolie longitudinally against the concave face of the coupling hook andbetween the same and the beveled face 6 of the opposing hook to holdsaid hook in coupling position against the pressure of the spring 7. Byturning the dog at right angles to such position the bearing edges 8 and8 thereof will respectively engage the concave face of the cooperatinghook and the beveled face of the opposing hook and spread the same apartagainst the resistance of the springs, thus releasing the hooks fromengagement with each other for the uncoupling operation. In theoperation of uncoupling, the tips of the engaging hooks of the opposingcouplers will come in contact and ride over one another against theresistance of the springs, which latter will then throw them intointerlocking engagement.

In order to operate each coupling hook a rod 11 is provided extendinghorizontally toward one side of the car. The inner end of the rod isprovided with a downturned end 12 pivotally engaging the crank arm 10,while the outer end of the rod is formed with a suitable handle 13, bywhich it may be manipulated. The rod slides in a bearing 14 on the endof the car, whereby it is supported and guided in its movements. In theoperation of uncoupling, one of the coupling hooks may be thrown to anopen or release position so that it will freely engage the opposingcoupling hook when the couplers come together, the jar of contactreleasing the dog and freeing the open coupling hook so that said hookwill be forced into locking position by its actuating spring.

It will be observed that the springs not only serve to hold the couplinghooks in bearing engagement with the releasing dog, but that the latter,when the hooks of opposing couplers are in engagement, lie at such anangle and in such a position that the manipulation of either dog willsimultaneously throw both hooks out of engagement, the arrangement ofthe springs being also such as to permit the couplers to have freedom ofaction to conform to the lateral oscillation or turning movements of thecars. Vertical movement is provided for by the free adaptability of theengaging hooks to ride up and down upon one another without throwingthem out of coupling engagement. The handles 13 of the levers 11 are soarranged that a trainman may release the couplers from either sidewithout the necessity of going between coupled cars, thus preventing theaccidents common in the use of the ordinary link and pin couplers.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description, taken with theillustrated disclosure of the invention,

that the latter provides a coupler which is simple of construction,capable of being manufactured at a low cost and adapted. to easilycouple and uncouple. Owing to the peculiar form and arrangement of thehooks of opposing couplers, it will be furthermore apparent that arm andconcaved face of thehook of an opposing coupler, said dog being ofelliptical form in cross section and adapted to lie between saidconcaved surfaces when the coupling devices are-in engagement, said doghaving contact points in major axial alinement to respectively engagesaid surfaces When the dog is turned to uncoupling position, means forrocking the dog, and a cushioning supporting spring fixed at one end tothe inner face of the outer side of the drawhead and hearing at its freeend against the outer face of the coupling arm at a point substantiallyon a transverse line passing through the minor axis of the dog.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.v

JOEL W. MALPI-IURS.

Witnesses T. B. ELLIS, J12, JNO. W. BLANDING.

